Slimantics: In establishment versus underdog only one has plan

The eve of tonight’s GOP runoff debate found the two candidates in much different surroundings.

Starkville preliminary budget report includes tax increase

Although no draft budget has been prepared and the first public hearing on the topic won’t be held until Aug. 20, the city of Starkville may consider a 1.5 mil property tax increase for Fiscal Year 2020.

Suspect implicated in West Arms Apartment complex murder pleads guilty to unrelated drug charge

A Starkville man implicated in a murder has pleaded guilty to unrelated drug charges.

From West Point to Woke: Area native challenges students at Georgia high school to read about underrepresented issues, people

A movement can start in the least likely of places.

“Read Woke” is such a movement, a program that started in a school library in Georgia three years ago and is now being implemented in schools and libraries in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and Norway.

Hotel sales tax revenues setting record pace

When the city of Starkville’s 2-percent hotel sales tax revenue arrived for month of January, the numbers would have made even a novice bookkeeper do a double-take. The state’s department of revenue returned $75,675 in hotel tax money to the city, almost $60,000 more than the previous January and the largest single-month tax receipt ever.

Slimantics: More Walkers, less tires

If you ask me, what this state needs is more Hagan Walkers and fewer state politicians throwing money around like beads at a Mardi Gras parade.

Locally, absentee voting for August primary lower than expected

While voter turnout is typically high during years that county and state offices are up for grabs, absentee voting — one indicator of turnout — hasn’t quite matched expectations.

Rural fire department tests for better rating

Sixty minutes could save you a lot of money on your fire insurance.

That’s not an advertisement, but was, rather, the desired outcome for the volunteer firefighters at Oktibbeha County’s Bell Schoolhouse fire district during Friday’s water-shuttle test.

Flash flood causes evacuations near Poorhouse Road

What is believed to be a flash flood led to the evacuation of 10 people Saturday afternoon in an apartment complex about two miles south of Starkville, according to Oktibbeha County Fire Services Coordinator Kirk Rosenhan.

Inter-related developments in limbo after aldermen fail to pass resolution

A two-hour executive session ended Thursday without an agreement on a pair of inter-related projects, leaving developers frustrated and the Starkville mayor insisting the projects are still on the table.

Slimantics: When ‘racist’ spills the bounds of political correctness

Not all life lessons come easy.

Preliminary report released on fatal plane crash

The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary investigative report on the plane crash that took the life of a Starkville student pilot in Oxford.

Questions linger on new stormwater rules

When the public hearing on a proposed change to the city of Starkville’s stormwater ordinance ended Tuesday without a single dissenting speaker, it appeared to be clear sailing for the plans which called for new developments to provide stormwater mitigation to withstand a 100-year storm event.

Aldermen select Gordon for SOCSD board

Aldermen selected Wesley Gordon Tuesday to fill the unexpired term of Lee Brand on the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board of Trustees.

Aldermen OK hiring consultants for Cornerstone Park

Aldermen approved hiring a pair of consultants as the city begins its plans for its new sports complex at Cornerstone Park and improvements at its current parks.

Oktibbeha does not qualify for HOME program

In 1990, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development established the HOME program in an effort to assist those living in rural communities or small towns that might not otherwise have access to HUD assistance.

Sturgis prepares for annual bike rally

Rodney Lincoln and Billy Blankenship expect a big turn-out for this year’s Sturgis Bike Rally next month. By a large margin, it is the town’s biggest event.

Job training program coming to J.L. King Center

A couple of weeks into its new funding campaign, the J.L. King Center is $25,000 short of the $60,000 it needs to continue operations through the end of the 2020.

Even so, momentum is building, said Alison Buehler, one of the architects of the center’s new funding plan.

Questions linger about annexation’s effect on minority voting strength

Among the criticisms of the city of Starkville’s annexation plan was its potential effect on black voting strength.

During the board of aldermen’s July 2 meeting, several references to that issue were raised during the public hearing held on the annexation plan.

Slimantics: I know misogyny when I see it

Have yourself a day, Robert Foster.

Before Wednesday, Robert Foster was pretty much off the radar, a one-term state senator polling in single digits in the GOP Governor primary.